Page 58 - Lighting Magazine October 2018

PreParing hoMes to sEll
“How many of you are teaching CEU- accredited classes to builders and real estate agents?”
furnishings by buying each piece at retail. “Then we started sourcing at market, which was a game- changer for us,” she admi ed. Model My Home maintains its furniture inventory in a 7,500-sq.- . warehouse and has done staging for luxury homes in other states besides Texas.
Uselton asked the audience, “How many of you are teaching CEU-accredited classes to builders and real estate agents?” She inferred that by teach- ing simple Design 101 techniques to tangential groups, interior designers can build their referral list and potentially increase business. “It’s called educa- tional marketing,” she quipped.
There isn’t a one-size- ts-all when it comes to staging properties, which typically fall into two types: Occupied and Vacant. Uselton o ers several services to hit various budgets and needs — from a two-hour “touch-up” to a four-hour “faceli .” Fees could range from $99 for a consultation to $600, depending on what is involved.
The Two-Hour Touch-Up for $299 is a popular service and involves two stagers working for approx- imately 120 minutes. “We ‘shop’ their homes and move things around. We don’t bring any furniture in,” Uselton explained. With such a tight timeframe, the procedure is highly organized. “We start at the front door – with the rst impression – and work our way back,” she stated.
“This o en leads to a future opportunity,” Uselton shared, pointing out that during the touch-up, it might be apparent that the client is missing a few key pieces, such as a large mirror, a chandelier, or a table. “You can either ll in with your merchandise or you can add on a ‘shopping trip’ for them,” she advised.
The Four-Hour FaceLi involves two stagers
“shopping” the home and bringing in inventory where needed. Sometimes, a cleaning crew might be hired to make the home presentable for potential buyers. “If we’re doing a Makeover, then we’ll work with the homeowners’ things as well as bring in some of ours like area rugs and artwork,” Uselton said.
There are times when a home is empty and a “Vacant Staging” is necessary. “Vacant is like being naked,” she stated. “We want to clothe these homes right. Just like people do online dating, homebuyers are online shopping.” First impressions mean a lot. “It only takes 6 to 10 minutes for someone to con- nect with a space,” she remarked.
For empty houses, “partial staging is the bread and bu er,” according to Uselton. “If we were to do a full staging, that would include spaces such as the garage, laundry room, and outdoor living.” A full staging or Makeover would typically cost around $3,800 and cover the labor as well as the furniture that is brought in for 30 days.
reDesIGn servIces
There are times when clients hire Uselton not to prep the home for sale, but to give it a fresh look. “For consultations, you can charge whatever your heart’s desire,” she quipped, adding, “We tend to charge per project versus by the hour.”
Model My Home has also been contracted to create apartment models for new multi-housing communities. Similarly, her rm has been tapped by builders in the Dallas area who are rehabbing older properties. “Most homes over 10 years old need new Bones, Skin, and Clothes,” she remarked. For her designer audience, Uselton recommended, “You will need to source vendors before you promote this aspect of your rm. Don’t be afraid to ask your vendors if they do business-to-business referrals.”
In the Bones category, it may be necessary to remove or add walls to update the home for what buyers are looking for today. Other “investment updates” are fresh paint, plus new ooring, lighting, countertops, and a revamped kitchen backsplash.
“The Skin of the home has to be neutral for all of the hard surfaces if your goal is selling the home,” Uselton noted. “Landscaping is another important aspect. If the exterior isn’t taken care of, people will assume the inside isn’t cared for either. It can just be a quick makeover such as pulling out dead branches and weeds and trimming hedges,” she added. “If you can’t see the home properly, people will be turned o . They won’t buy what they can’t see.” 
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54 enLIGHTenment Magazine | october 2018
www.enlightenmentmag.com